Divorce Attorney Myrtle Beach SC

Divorce Attorney Myrtle Beach SC

Prepared to Help with Divorce Proceedings

Is your marriage not working out? Are you headed for a divorce but aren’t sure how the process works here in South Carolina? Our Divorce Attorney Myrtle Beach SC team at Indigo Family Law can be your guide. Whether it’s an amicable divorce or a contentious one, our lawyers will offer honest advice that will consider your best interests and the best interests of your children.

Don’t go it alone. Having a divorce lawyer on your side who you can trust can help you avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes. To request a consultation with our experienced divorce attorney near you, contact our Myrtle Beach law office. You can also reach Indigo Family Law by phone at (843) 626-5480.

Grounds for Divorce in South Carolina

As noted in S.C. Code § 20-3-10, there are five grounds for divorce in the state:

  • Adultery
  • Habitual drunkenness
  • Physical cruelty
  • Abandonment
  • No fault

For no-fault divorces, you will need to finish one year of non-cohabitation with your spouse before a divorce can proceed. If you are unsure if you can file for a divorce in the state of South Carolina, our Myrtle Beach divorce attorneys can discuss your situation and let you know.

Why Choose Indigo Family Law

As partners at Indigo Family Law, attorneys Brana Williams and Ryan Stampfle have more than 40 years of combined legal experience.

The Indigo Way

Whenever we work with someone going through a divorce, we follow these three principles:

  1. We tell you exactly what you can expect.
  2. We call you back! We never leave you hanging.
  3. We understand; we all have families, too.

Our Lawyers Always Tell It Like It Is

At Indigo Family Law, we’ll stick to the facts and give you the unvarnished truth. It’s important that divorce clients understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of what’s ahead. It’s our way of maintaining a legal perspective while also thinking about your personal point of view.

We’re Ready for Whatever Life Throws at You

Both Brana Williams and Ryan Stampfle wound up on unexpected paths in their legal careers. It’s a good reminder that when life throws unexpected twists your way, you have to be ready to adapt. As your life changes or challenges arise, our family law attorneys will help you understand how those events affect your divorce.

Even When Your Case Is Closed, You’re Not Closed to Us

Even when your divorce is finalized and you’ve married someone else, you can still contact Indigo Family Law with any questions. Many of our past clients have reached out to us later on in life for some legal advice. We’re more than happy to catch up and provide our insight or a referral to offer you some help.

Contact Experienced Myrtle Beach Divorce Lawyers Near You

Feeling lost while going through a divorce? Indigo Family Law is ready to provide a road map that will get you from point A to point B. To speak with a compassionate and honest divorce lawyer near you, contact our Myrtle Beach law office.

Should We Get Divorced or Just Remain Separated?

Getting divorced or seeking a separation is a personal choice for a couple. In South Carolina, there’s no legal separation, but living apart for at least one year is a prerequisite for getting a divorce in the state. Some couples may decide to live separately without getting divorced due to religious reasons, a co-parenting arrangement, or other motives. However, without a divorce, neither separated spouse can get married to someone else.

If this is a question you’re currently wondering about, our family lawyers in Myrtle Beach can let you know if a divorce or staying separated makes more sense for you.

Division of Assets and Debts

When couples divorce, their marital property (assets and debts accumulated during marriage) will be divided while separate property (assets and debts each person had before marriage) is kept by the individual spouse. Many disputes occur over the division of a couple’s assets and debts, especially since separate property winds up becoming commingled with marital property.

Our Myrtle Beach divorce lawyers can help make sure assets and debts are equitably distributed and that any separate property remains your property. We will first check if you have a valid prenuptial agreement in place that identifies who gets what in case of a divorce.

High-Asset Couples and Complex Divorces

Comingled property isn’t the only source of tension in a divorce. Arguments can arise when a couple has investments, stocks, digital assets, retirement accounts, businesses, high-value collectibles, and real estate holdings.

In these situations, it’s helpful to have an attorney familiar with complex property division in a high-asset divorce, which includes the division of a divorced couple’s business ventures. Indigo Family Law can help make sure these high-value assets are properly distributed based on who owned the asset or the contribution of each spouse to this shared property.

Alimony Payments

Also known as spousal support, alimony payments may be made by one spouse to the other as part of the divorce. Alimony is intended to provide financial assistance to a spouse so they are able to be financially dependent after marriage.

The amount and duration of the alimony payments will depend on the length of the marriage, the career/work history of each spouse, highest level of education completed, and other factors.

Adultery Could Make You Ineligible for Alimony in South Carolina

In the state of South Carolina, infidelity could disqualify you from receiving alimony. If adultery was grounds for your divorce, our lawyers will let you know how that could affect your eligibility for spousal support and other aspects of your case.

Discuss Your Situation with Our Divorce Attorneys in Myrtle Beach, SC

Going through a divorce can be stressful and confusing. Indigo Family Law is here to make the process a little easier and to take some of the burden off your shoulders. We’re here to help and to provide some peace of mind. To request a consultation with a trustworthy divorce attorney near you, contact our Myrtle Beach family law office.

Child Custody

Child custody refers to both physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody means which parent the child gets to stay with while legal custody refers to a parent’s ability to make decisions about how a child is raised.

The state of South Carolina usually feels it’s in a child’s best interests to have both parents play an active role in their upbringing. However, a child may wind up being with one parent more than the other. The parent who has greater physical custody of a child is known as the custodial parent.

Can I Get Full Custody of My Child?

You can seek full custody of your child if your ex is an unfit parent. This basically means that your ex is unable to provide a safe, stable, and loving environment for your child when they visit. If your former spouse has a history of domestic violence, child abuse, or other violent crimes, it’s likely in your child’s best interests to be fully in your care.

If you need someone to talk to about the safety and well-being of your child, our Myrtle Beach divorce attorneys can help you seek full custody.

Child Visitation Rights

Also known as parenting time, child visitation refers to the time a non-custodial parent gets to spend with their children. The non-custodial parent may be granted weeks or months of parenting time throughout the year, or may only have access to their child during certain holidays and special occasions. Parents are encouraged to develop a parenting plan that works for their schedules and the needs of their children.

Obviously many disagreements can arise when it comes to spending quality time with your own children. Sometimes a parent may feel like their ex is pushing them out of their child’s life, which is known as parental alienation in extreme cases. When these kinds of disputes arise, our divorce lawyers can help ensure you’re heard and your child’s well-being is accounted for.

Can I Make Sure My Child Is Protected When They Are with My Ex?

Yes. Even if your ex has a criminal history, past substance abuse, or mental health issues, it could still be in your child’s best interests for your ex to have some visitation rights.

In such cases, a judge may allow your ex to have supervised visitation with your child. That means that a third-party or a representative from an agency will be present to monitor your child and your ex whenever they are together.

Child Support Payments

In addition to alimony, one spouse may need to provide the other spouse with child support payments as part of the divorce. Child support is meant to help cover the cost of raising a child, which can include everything from food, clothing, education costs, medical care, and some extracurricular activities.

Typically, the non-custodial parent will pay the custodial parent child support. The amount and duration of the child support payments will depend on a variety of factors, including current income, the number of children involved, and the age of the children involved. Our divorce lawyers in Myrtle Beach can discuss child support payments with you in more detail as part of your consultation.

What Do I Do If My Ex Refuses to Pay Child Support?

If your ex is late with child support or refuses to pay child support, our attorneys can help. Our lawyers can check with Horry County officials and initiate a contempt of court hearing. There are a number of ways that your ex may be compelled to make back payments or that delinquent child support can be taken from their income.

During stressful situations like this, it’s helpful to have lawyers like ours on your side who can sympathize with your difficulties but also point out potential solutions.

Request a Consultation with Honest Myrtle Beach Divorce Lawyers Near You

Indigo Family Law will always prioritize your child’s best interests. If you’re fighting for custody, trying to get more time with your children, or need help with getting late child support payments, our lawyers are ready to listen. To speak with a qualified divorce attorney near you, contact our Myrtle Beach law office.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for a Divorce

Not all divorces have to feel like a war. If you and your ex are on good (or good enough) terms, you can avoid the courtroom and resolve your differences through alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

ADR methods will usually save you time and money while also sparing each other’s feelings. Our divorce lawyers in Myrtle Beach will let you know if ADR is a worthwhile option to consider for your case.

Collaborative Divorce

In a collaborative divorce, the spouses and their attorneys meet together to discuss their disagreements. The direct communication between both sides means a free flow of ideas and signals a willingness to compromise and find a mutually agreeable solution.

Divorce Mediation

If collaboration and direct communication are not options, there’s always mediation. During mediation, an objective third party (a mediator) is brought in to serve as a go-between for the two sides. The mediator can present offers and alternatives from each side until a compromise is reached.

Modifying Court Orders After a Divorce

You don’t stop needing an attorney after you’re finished getting divorced. You may need to modify an agreement with your ex as life events occur. Say you lose your primary source of income, come down with a serious illness, have to move for a new job, or get married again. These may require changes to an existing court order.

Our lawyers can help you request a modification to your alimony or child support obligations. We can also request a modification to custody and visitation agreements as needed. If your ex contends with these proposed changes, we can present your case and negotiate.

Modifying Your Estate Plan After a Divorce

We mentioned that life can throw unexpected twists and turns your way. If you and your spouse drafted a will or set up a trust but then got divorced, you’ll both need to rethink your previous estate plan. Indigo Family Law has you covered.

In addition to family law, our attorneys also provide estate planning and elder law services. We can help you draft a new will, reconsider a trust you’ve previously set up, and make sure your beneficiaries get the property you want to leave them. Getting your affairs in order after your divorce will make things easier on your family in the future.

Contact Our Indigo Family Law Divorce Attorney Myrtle Beach SC Team 

We know that getting divorced isn’t easy. That’s why Indigo Family Law is here to offer our guidance and our honest advice. You’ll only get straight talk from us. To meet with an experienced divorce lawyer near you, contact our Myrtle Beach legal practice office. You can also get in touch with Indigo Family Law by phone at (843) 626-5480.